Peter A Derow Talks About What Rowing Teaches About Teamwork
Rowing is a highly coordinated team sport, where all members have to seamlessly work together in order to achieve success. As per Peter A Derow, this activity teaches the rowers the importance of synchronization, mutual support and communication, all of which are important in any high-performance team. All members rowing a vessel have to trust each other to do their part, and depend on the strength and stamina of one another. This helps in building a sense of reliability and trust among the member, which is extremely important for any team to function in an efficient manner.
Peter A Derow briefly sheds light on what rowing teaches about teamwork
Teamwork is an integral aspect of rowing. In this activity, every rower more or less performs the same action, in unison to accomplish a shared goal. However, it is also important to remember that rowers in every seat in the boat has certain nuanced tasks to perform, beyond to “just”. The coxswain calls strategy, steers the boat, monitors the stroke rate and speed, and also motivates the team. The rower who sits closest to the stern of a boat, also known as the “stroke”, is responsible for setting the rhythm and rate of the boat. On the other hand, the two rowers at the front of a rowing boat are called the bow pair, and they tend to be responsible for the boat’s stability and direction. While a coxswain does have the strength of the command, none of the roles in a boat alone can efficiently trust the boat 2000 m across the finish line. Proper teamwork and communication are needed to row the boat seamlessly and successfully. Leveraging individual strengths and ensuring proper teamwork both are important for rowing success.
Effective communication is very critical in rowing, as team members have to swiftly respond to commands from the coxswain or stroke person. This teaches every rower to listen in an attentive manner, communicate clearly and gain the ability to make split-second decisions. Rowing also requires every team member to be accountable for their own performance. After all, if a single rower fails to pull their weight, the entire team suffers. This sense of accountability goes a long way in encouraging team members to take their responsibilities seriously and perform to the best of their ability. This trait is extremely valuable in high-performance teams.
Peter A Derow points out that rowing on the water can be unpredictable owing to changing conditions like current and wind. Rowers need to adapt to these changes fast. This helps them to develop adaptability and resilience, both of which are important skills for any team that often face unexpected challenges.
Rowing teams generally set very clear goals, and tirelessly work to achieve those objectives. This goal-oriented mindset translates well to high-performance teams in varied settings, who also have specific objectives and deadlines to meet. Diverse team members take on leadership roles at varied times in rowing, like the role of the coxswain and the stroke person. This experience helps every team member to gain a better understanding of both leadership and follower-ship.
